Decorative Enhancements for Basketball Nets

ABSTRACT

A system of decorations may be applied to a basketball net to enhance the net&#39;s decorative appeal. Coloration of the net strands or links may be placed in any combination with decorative fill material placed between the strands and links, a decorative lattice surrounding the exterior surface of the net, or decorative patches affixed to the exterior of the net. Each type of decorative surface may be printed, embroidered, dyed, or otherwise decorated with any combination of colors, patterns, designs, or indicia.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/692210, filed Aug. 22, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to basketball and other sports nets and in particular to decorative enhancements for such nets. Nets used in basketball at all levels of competition are generally plain, with the strands or chains being undecorated. At most, the net strands may be presented in a particular color or combination of colors. Similarly, while backboards often present team indicia, the net itself generally represents an unused space for carrying decorations, particularly team indicia or marketing indicia. A system is needed for providing decorations and indicia to the net itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a system of decorations which may be applied to a basketball net to enhance the net's decorative appeal. Coloration of the net strands or links may be placed in any combination with decorative fill material placed between the strands and links, a decorative lattice surrounding the exterior surface of the net, or decorative patches affixed to the exterior of the net. Each type of decorative surface may be printed, embroidered, dyed, or otherwise decorated with any combination of colors, patterns, designs, or indicia.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the first exemplary embodiment, showing the net 10, rim 11, first color material 12, second color material 13, links 14, strands 15, and spaces 16.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the second exemplary embodiment, showing the net 20, rim 21, and flexible lattice 22.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the third exemplary embodiment, showing the net 30, rim 31, fill material 32, spaces 33, strands 34, and links 35.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the fourth exemplary embodiment, showing the net 40, rim 41, and patch 42.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to a system of decorative enhancements for basketball nets or other net-like structures for use in sports or in other applications. FIGS. 1-4 show several exemplary embodiments, each demonstrating one or more features of the system, which may be applied to a particular basketball net in any combination.

FIG. 1 shows the first exemplary embodiment. In the first exemplary embodiment, a net 10 is suspended from a rim 11. The rim 11 may be any regulation or non-regulation size, and is preferably made of a high strength metal material, such as steel or other material as is or may become customary for basketball rims. The net 10 is preferably a weave of nylon, cotton, or hemp fibers or metal chain other material as may be suitably flexible and durable. The net 10 may be woven in any fashion suitable for creating a generally cylindrical net (many such methods being well-known in the prior art), preferably in a manner customary for basketball nets.

The net 10 may be produced in any color or combination or pattern of colors, as distinct from a neutral or un-colored material (e.g. un-dyed fiber or unfinished metal), depending on the color needs of the particular embodiment, such as the display of particular colors associated with the “home team” at the venue where the net 10 is to be installed. Any means of applying color to the net 10 may be employed; for example fiber nets may be dyed according to a suitable dyeing method for the particular fiber (many such methods are known in the prior art). Metal chain nets may be painted, powder coated, or anodized and dyed to apply desired colors.

Referring still to the first exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the net 10 is made up of strands 15 and links 14; the strands 15 are lengths of linear material, and the links 14 are the points of intersection and attachment, whether by interweaving or fixing flexible lines, interlinking chain links, or other attachment means. The strands 15 and links 14 of the net 10 define a plurality of spaces 16, which may be filled with a flat, flexible material, such as woven fabric. The fill material may alternate colors, for example between a first color material 12 and a second color material 13. The fill material may also be printed, embroidered, or otherwise decorated with a pattern, design, design, symbol, logo, or other indicia. The fill material may be affixed to the net 10 with stitching, adhesives, or other fasteners between the perimeter of the fill material and the surrounding strands 15 and links 14.

FIG. 2 shows the second exemplary embodiment. In the second exemplary embodiment, a net 20 is suspended from a rim 21; the net 20 and rim 21 are similar to the net 10 and rim 11 of the first exemplary embodiment in all aspects and possible variations. In the second exemplary embodiment, a flexible lattice 22 is affixed to the outside surface of the net 10. The flexible lattice 22 may be made of a fabric material, and may be affixed to the net 20 with stitching, adhesives, or other appropriate fastening means. The flexible lattice 22 preferably matches the external form of the net 20 when the net 20 is in a neutral hanging position. The flexible lattice 22 may partially cover the exterior surface of the net 20 according to a diamond pattern as shown in FIG. 2, or may follow a different geometric pattern, or may be asymmetric following no pattern at all, or may completely cover the exterior surface of the net 20. The flexible lattice 20 may be printed or otherwise decorated with any combination of colors, designs, patterns, or indicia.

FIG. 3 shows the third exemplary embodiment. In the third exemplary embodiment, a net 30 is suspended from a rim 31; the net 30 and rim 31 are similar to the net 10 and rim 11 of the first exemplary embodiment in all aspects and possible variations. In the third exemplary embodiment, some, but not all, of the spaces 33 between the strands 34 and links 35 of the net 30 are filled with a flat, flexible fill material 32, which may be printed or otherwise decorated with any combination of colors, patterns, designs, or indicia. The spaces 33 may alternate unfilled spaces and spaces filled by fill material 32 as shown, or may follow any pattern or be placed asymmetrically. Each piece of fill material 32 may be affixed to its surrounding strands 34 and links 35 by appropriate fasteners for the material of the net 30; for example a flexible fiber net 30 may be sewn to the fill material 32, and a chain net 30 may be affixed to the fill material 32 by adhesive.

FIG. 4 shows the fourth exemplary embodiment. In the fourth exemplary embodiment, a net 40 is suspended from a rim 41; the net 40 and rim 41 are similar to the net 10 and rim 11 of the first exemplary embodiment in all aspects and possible variations. In the fourth exemplary embodiment, a patch 42 of flat flexible material, which may be affixed to the net 40 by stitching, adhesives or other appropriate fastening means. Any number of patches 42 may be applied to the net 40. The patch 42 may be printed, embroidered, or otherwise decorated with any combination of colors, patterns, designs, or indicia.

The first color material 12, second color material 13, links 14, strands 15, flexible lattice 22, fill material 32, strands 34, links 35, and patch 42 would preferably be manufactured from flexible, durable materials that are easily cleaned, such as plastic, acetate, nylon, cotton fabric, and cotton-polyester blend fabric. Components, component sizes, and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that alternate components and materials could be selected without altering the scope of the invention.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A sports net decoration system comprising: (a) a net; (b) said net comprising a plurality of strands; (c) said strands being interconnected to one another by a plurality of links; (d) said strands and links defining a plurality of spaces between them; (e) a plurality of pieces of fill material; (f) a plurality of said spaces being filled by one of said plurality of pieces of fill material, affixed about the perimeter of said one of said plurality of pieces of fill material; (g) each of said plurality of pieces of fill material being decorated with any one or more of the group of decorations of a solid color, a pattern of colors, a symbol, a logo, or text.
 2. A sports net decoration system comprising: (a) a net; (b) said net being comprised of a plurality of strands; (c) said strands being interconnected to one another by a plurality of links; (d) said strands and links defining a plurality of spaces between them; (e) a flexible lattice; (f) said flexible lattice being affixed to the exterior surface of said net; (g) said flexible lattice being decorated with any one or more of the group of decorations of a solid color, a pattern of colors, a symbol, a logo, or text.
 3. A sports net decoration system comprising: (a) a net; (b) said net being comprised of a plurality of strands; (c) said strands being interconnected to one another by a plurality of links; (d) said strands and links defining a plurality of spaces between them; (e) at least one patch; (f) said at least one patch being affixed to the exterior surface of said net; (g) said at least one patch being decorated with any one or more of the group of decorations of a solid color, a pattern of colors, a symbol, a logo, or text.
 4. The sports net decoration system of claim 1 further comprising: (a) a flexible lattice; (b) said flexible lattice being affixed to the exterior surface of said net; (c) said flexible lattice being decorated with any one or more of the group of decorations of a solid color, a pattern of colors, a symbol, a logo, or text.
 5. The sports net decoration system of claim 3 further comprising: (a) a flexible lattice; (b) said flexible lattice being affixed to the exterior surface of said net; (c) said flexible lattice being decorated with any one or more of the group of decorations of a solid color, a pattern of colors, a symbol, a logo, or text.
 6. The sports net decoration system of claim 1 further comprising: (a) at least one patch; (b) said at least one patch being affixed to the exterior surface of said net; (c) said at least one patch being decorated with any one or more of the group of decorations of a solid color, a pattern of colors, a symbol, a logo, or text.
 7. The sports net decoration system of claim 1 wherein said strands are applied with at least one decorative color.
 8. The sports net decoration system of claim 2 wherein said strands are applied with at least one decorative color.
 9. The sports net decoration system of claim 3 wherein said strands are applied with at least one decorative color.
 10. The sports net decoration system of claim 4 wherein said strands are applied with at least one decorative color.
 11. The sports net decoration system of claim 5 wherein said strands are applied with at least one decorative color.
 12. The sports net decoration system of claim 6 wherein said strands are applied with at least one decorative color.
 13. The sports net decoration system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of pieces of fill material is one of two colors and wherein said plurality of pieces of fill material is arranged about said net in an alternating color pattern.
 14. The sports net decoration system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of pieces of fill material is the same color and wherein said plurality of pieces of fill material is arranged about said net in a pattern alternating with unfilled space.
 15. The sports net decoration system of claim 4 wherein each of said plurality of pieces of fill material is one of two colors and wherein said plurality of pieces of fill material is arranged about said net in an alternating color pattern.
 16. The sports net decoration system of claim 4 wherein each of said plurality of pieces of fill material is the same color and wherein said plurality of pieces of fill material is arranged about said net in a pattern alternating with unfilled space.
 17. The sports net decoration system of claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of pieces of fill material is one of two colors and wherein said plurality of pieces of fill material is arranged about said net in an alternating color pattern.
 18. The sports net decoration system of claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of pieces of fill material is the same color and wherein said plurality of pieces of fill material is arranged about said net in a pattern alternating with unfilled space.
 19. The sports net decoration system of claim 7 wherein each of said plurality of pieces of fill material is one of two colors and wherein said plurality of pieces of fill material is arranged about said net in an alternating color pattern.
 20. The sports net decoration system of claim 7 wherein each of said plurality of pieces of fill material is the same color and wherein said plurality of pieces of fill material is arranged about said net in a pattern alternating with unfilled space.
 21. The sports net decoration system of claim 10 wherein each of said plurality of pieces of fill material is one of two colors and wherein said plurality of pieces of fill material is arranged about said net in an alternating color pattern.
 22. The sports net decoration system of claim 10 wherein each of said plurality of pieces of fill material is the same color and wherein said plurality of pieces of fill material is arranged about said net in a pattern alternating with unfilled space. 